by Michelle Bayes DTM Club Growth Director
As part of the journey to chartering a new Toastmasters club, it is essential to demonstrate what a meeting will look like. This preview gives prospective members a clear understanding of what to expect before making a commitment because, after all, it’s important to know what you’re getting into!
When someone expresses interest in seeing a Toastmasters meeting “in action,” we conduct what is known as a Demo Meeting. During this session, we highlight the three main components of a typical meeting:
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- Prepared Speeches: Members present speeches they have prepared in advance
- Impromptu Speeches: Participants engage in an unrehearsed Table Topics session
- Evaluations: Constructive feedback is provided to speakers to help them improve
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Additionally, we may include one or two extra roles to enrich the experience. These meetings rely on volunteers who step in to fulfill various agenda roles, ensuring a dynamic and engaging demonstration.
Our district offers opportunities for Demo Meetings across a wide range of locations. As a result, we never quite know where our next session will take place, nor whether it will be online, in person, or hybrid. This variety presents a unique challenge in assembling demo teams, but it also fosters growth and adaptability among our members.
Your Club Extension Chair, Genea Tucker, is actively building a roster of Toastmasters at all experience levels who are interested in serving during Demo Meetings. She welcomes anyone eager to participate and contribute to the club extension effort.
Intrigued? Want to be involved? Reach out to Genea at extension_chair@d25toastmasters.org or contact your Club Growth Director, Michelle Bayes, at cgd@d25toastmasters.org.
